This just in…Case Histories II is coming to a telly near you in the not-too-distant future. Brilliantly adapted from the Jackson Brodie detective novels by Kate Atkinson, Case Histories, starring Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter, The Patriot, The Brotherhood), is a mix of cold case crimes and fresh bloodshed, all needing the unique detective talents of one, Jackson Brodie.

If you’re familiar with the first series, you’ll need no reminder of how the soundtrack should have been awarded a co-star credit given the major role it played in the original series. Atkinson brings private investigator Jackson Brodie vividly to life in words — and music. In this exclusive interview for Masterpiece producers, Atkinson explained her love of music, and how she worked with the Case Histories producers to create the haunting soundtrack of songs used so brilliantly in the series.

Atkinson explains: “Like me, Jackson is a long-term country fan and for each of the novels I’ve had a playlist — something which often evolves during the course of the novel, but which somehow points me to something essential at the heart of each book. Sometimes the tracks don’t seem particularly relevant, but they are to me (and Jackson)…

Jackson likes his women, not just Nanci Griffith and Lucinda Williams but also Iris DeMent, Gillian Welch, Mary Gauthier, Eliza Gilkyson and a host of others. I am (and thereby Jackson, of course) a total fan of both Lucy Kaplansky and Patti Griffin, neither of whom are feature here but would most definitely have been on Jackson’s playlist. Kris Delmhorst was a new artist to me but I’ve been listening to her a lot since discovering her on the soundtrack.

Jason Isaac and Kate Atkinson discuss Case Histories

If you aren’t familiar with the series, you need to be familiar with the soundtrack. Enter, PBS’ Masterpiece series who put together a complete Case Histories soundtrack songlist for you to begin to seek out. Get those iTunes gift cards out now.

And for no other reason than I love this trailer for the first series, here’s another look to bridge until series 2 comes our way, hopefully, in 2012.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdVvxgMDfag